Sam Stringer reports on the latest activity in the transfer market…
Tony Humes has completed his first bit of business in the January transfer window, bringing ex-loanee Alex Wynter back to Colchester on a permanent basis from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.
The versatile defender enjoyed a good run in the United first team at the end of last season, scoring an important goal in the penultimate game of the season which all but guaranteed safety for the Essex side.
Since then, 21-year-old Wynter was again loaned out by his parent club to League Two side Portsmouth where he played fifteen games this season.
The 18-month deal will considerably bolster Colchester’s options with fellow central defenders Magnus Okuonghae and Frankie Kent out injured.
Familiar with his surroundings and popular in his time already spent at the club, Wynter should settle in to the Colchester side with no problems at all as he looks to kick-start his own career.
Upon signing Wynter said: “When I came in last season, I enjoyed everything about the place – the fans, the players and the great set-up here.”
Alex follows a number of players in making the switch from a Premier League side to Colchester in recent years, with current first-teamers; George Moncur, Sanchez Watt, Sam Walker, Craig Eastmond and Freddie Sears all having done the same.
The deal has been completed in time for Alex to be available for the weekend game away to Peterborough, with fellow defender Kaspars Gorkss also in contention having signed a new deal himself.
The experienced Latvian defender only joined on a one month contract in December, but Tony Humes has seen it necessary to extend Gorkss’s stay in Essex, with limited options in defence.
This news follows on the from the additional contract extension of David Fox earlier this week, who has proved a real leader in the U’s midfield and will now remain in the side until the end of the season.